Russian political meltdown as dead MP manages to vote 11 times in parliament session

Russian lawmaker Mikhail Tarasenko, a longtime member of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, was officially declared dead on Tuesday—shortly after records showed he had participated in a parliamentary voting session earlier that same day.

Tarasenko, aged 77, had reportedly been battling a serious illness. His death was publicly announced by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin during the session. However, according to parliamentary records published on the Duma’s website, Tarasenko's votes were counted in 11 decisions made between 12:29 p.m. and 1:40 p.m. Moscow time. In ten cases, he voted in favor, and in one instance, against.

He was notably absent from a controversial vote held at 2:08 p.m. concerning new penalties for individuals who search for so-called “extremist materials” online. His death was confirmed shortly thereafter.

Speaker Volodin remarked: “He was seriously ill—the illness, unfortunately, proved stronger.”

This isn’t the first time questions have been raised over the Russian parliament’s voting process. Similar instances have occurred where lawmakers registered votes despite being physically absent or even incapacitated. Under current Duma rules, proxy voting is permitted if a deputy provides an explanation and authorizes another member to use their voting card.

Tarasenko, originally from Taganrog in the Rostov region, had a background in the mining and metallurgy sectors before transitioning to politics. He served as a member of parliament since 2007 and had been active on several committees, including one focused on veterans’ affairs.

In recent years, he had been sanctioned by Western nations—including the U.S., UK, EU, and Canada—over his political affiliations and support for Kremlin-aligned policies.

While the circumstances of Tuesday’s vote have sparked questions about transparency and parliamentary procedure, Tarasenko’s long tenure and loyalty to United Russia reflect the tightly controlled nature of political life in the Russian legislature.